PORTLAND, Ore. - Karen Du (Santa Clarita, Calif.) breaking Andrea Heilman's school record in the discus highlighted 14 new or improved Northwest Conference qualifying performances turned in by the Boxer track & field teams at the Lewis & Clark Spring Break Open on Friday and Saturday.  Du's mark of 41.42m (135-11) beat Heilman's mark, which was set in 1980 and was the only Boxer women's record in an NCAA championship event that was set before 2002, by 40 cm.  Jason Draper (Novato, Calif.) had the best performance on the men's side as he missed the school record in the hammer throw by less than a foot with a mark of 51.97m (170-6).

New NWC qualifying marks were turned in by Audrey Lincoln (Hermiston, Calif.) in the 100 (13.08) and by Shannon Hammond (Forest Grove, Ore.) in the high jump (1.49m [4-10.5]).  Du was one of three Boxer women who improved their mark in the shot put.  She threw 12.44m (40-9.75) while Megan Wesel (Winchester, Calif.) threw 11.82m (38-9.5) and Emily DeYoung (McMinnville, Ore.) threw 11.36m (37-3.25).  Brian King (Los Angeles, Calif.) and Dianna Church (Bothell, Wash.) improved their marks in the hammer throw with marks of 49.14m (161-3) and 43.99m (144-4) respectively.  Hammond and Jenna Hoiland (Happy Valley, Ore.) both improved their marks in the triple jump with jumps of 10.58m (34-8.5) and 10.69m (35-1) respectively.  Kolby Nikolaisen (Sumner, Wash.) improved his pole vault mark with a jump of 4.47m (14-8) and Jess Knoll (Arlee, Mont.) improved her time in the 800 (2:23.75).  The men's 4 x 400 relay of Grant Brobeck (Clackamas, Ore.), Garrett Stewart (Forest Grove, Ore.), Riley Stewart (Forest Grove, Ore.) and Chris Butcher (Portland, Ore.) also improved their mark with a time of 3:31.1.

The Pacific track & field teams will compete again next Saturday, March 24 in Tacoma, Wash. at the Peyton Scoring Meet at the University of Puget Sound.